Method of and apparatus for starching garments



2 Sheets-Shet 1 H. KOPLIN Filed Sep't. 4, 1934 METHOD 0F AND APPARATUSFOR STARCHING GARMENTS Aug. 2,5, 1936.

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(Ittornegs H. KOPLIN METHOD OF 'AND APPARATUS FOR STARCHING GARMENTSFiled sept. 4 2 sheets-sheet 2 Suventor l Gttomegs Patented Aug. 25,1936' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STARCHING GARNIENTS Harry Koplin,Chicago, Ell., assignorQby mesne assignments, toReconstruction FinanceCorporation, a corporation of the United States Application september 4,193i, serial No. 742,668

17 Claims.

This invention pertains to an improved method of and apparatus forapplying starch to garments, and more particularly to definite portionsthereof, with a View of securing uniform and complete `impregnation ofsuch portions, and likewise to prevent, to a greater or less extent, theapplication of starch to those portions of the garment which areadjacent the definite portions which are starched.

The method now commonly in vogue in laundries where say a shirt is to bestarched, may be said to be as follows: y

After the washing operation has been completed, the last rinse iscommonly impregnated `with starch or sizing, and as a consequence theentire shirt is thus starched or sized. If the customer desires aspecial starched collar and/or cuif, the method employed, insofar as Iam aware, isV to dip these portions or sections into bowls containing astarch solution, where they become charged with starch, after which theshirt is wrung out by hand and placed in an extractor where all surplusmoisture is removed. This last step, incidentally, produces starch spotsthroughout the body of the shirt and does not, moreover, bring about auniform saturation or impregnation of the starch in those sections whichhave been hand-dipped. The weight of moisture and starch in a garmentthus treated is equal to approximately one and one-half (l1/2) times itsdryv weight. By the method of my invention, as hereafter set forth, theweight of the starch and moisture should and will not be over 75% of the`dry weight of the fabric, thereby materially reducing the timenecessary to iron such starched elements or parts. What is more, mymethod ensures a uniform and complete impregnation of the elementscuffscollar, etc., without causing or permitting the starch to pass into theimmediately adjacent portions of thegarment. Y 1

Stated somewhat broadly, the invention contemplates spraying a starchsolution onto an outstretched, unwrinkled garment element, maintainingthe impingement of the spray thereon for aV fixed interval of time,preferably effected by the speed of movement of the outstretched,unwrinkled element through the spray and finally (though notnecessarily) subjecting the element to a compressive action, preferablya rolling one, whereby thestarch is caused to flow and permeate theelement evenly throughout. The outstretching of the garment elementnecessarily does away with any `wrinltling and opens up the same,putting'threads running in the direction in which the feed takes placeunder more or less tension, while (ci. iss-2s) separating or temporarily.spacing the transverselyextending threads. ,Y

Means is provided whereby the spray is localized upon the element whichis being sprayed, so

that adjacent portions of the garment are unaf- 5 fected, or in otherwords, remain unstarched. The invention as above noted is designed tostarch denite portions of argarment, which in usual practice are themarginal portions, as the collar band, the cuffs and the button-holestrip, when V a shirt is the article considered.

, The annexed drawings disclose a machine by which the method aboveoutlined may be practiced though, as will be readily appreciated,

equivalent mechanism will suggest itself to those15..=

skilled in the art.

` In the drawingszv `Figure l is a side elevation of a machine which hasbeen employed to carry out my invention;

Fig. 2, a perspective view of the work supporting gridand .theVunderlying open bottom supporting member;

Fig. 3, a transverse vertical sectional view of the machinetaken on theline III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. ,4, a Vertical sectional View of the spray 25,

directing and confining chamber; and

l Figs. 5 and 6, transverse sectional views illustrative of differentforms of bars or rods which may be employed in the formation of the worksupporting grid.

Referring to the drawings, the mainframe of the machine may be said tocomprise two vertically disposed frame members l and 2, each provided.with an upstanding column-like member denoted by,3 and 4, respectively,whichterminate at their upper` ends in overhanging and forwardlyextending arms 5 and 6, respectively. The under faces of the arms lie ina common plane and have secured thereto longitudinally disposed framemembers 1 and, which members also serve as a carrier for certainelements, hereafter referred to.

Mountedcupon and secured to the upper portion of the base elements ofthe frame members Land 2, are two longitudinally disposed frame members9 and Iilwhich form the support for certain of the operating and otherelements of the machine. As will be best seen upon reference to Fig. 3,said members!) and l) are substantially of inverted T-shape form, and tothe outer portion of the member 9 there is secured av trough-shapedmember HY supported in part by brackets I2. Said trough-shaped member ispreferably formed of non-corrodlble metal and at its inner portion itiextends :upwardly in, line ,with .the ,upwardly extending element of themember 9 and is turned inwardly, forming a flange as at I3 (Fig. 3)which overlies a part of the upper face of the vertically disposedelement of the member 9.

The machine is so designed as to provide a grid or screen surface overwhich the portion of the garment which is to be starched is passed, andcooperating therewith is a spray chamber which directs the fluid starchin sprayed form upon the section of the garment which is undergoingtreatment.

In Fig. 2, the grid surface is illustrated. It may be said to comprise aseries of rods or bars I4 spaced from each other and secured as byspotwelding or otherwise to the oppositely disposed outwardly projectingflanges I5, I 5a formed upon the upper portion of a rectangular shapedmember I6. This member, as are the rods, will preferably be formed fromnon-corrodible metal, and in addition to the flanges heretofore referredto, is provided with side flanges I1, I1a, which lie in the same planeWith the flanges I5, I5,

'I'he bars may be round in cross-section, or of the cross-section shownin Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. In the former, it will be noted that they tapertoward the upper end; while in the latter, the reverse form is shown.Preferably the bars will present a smooth or planished surface, in orderto facilitate the movement of the garment element being starchedthereover.

The box-like member I6 is seated upon the upper end of the members 9 andIIJ (see Fig. 3), being open at the bottom and standing above aremovable receptacle I 8 supported by the inwardly projecting flanges ofthe oppositely disposed members 9 and I0. v

Located above the grid and spaced slightly therefrom is aspray-directing chamber, designated generally by I9 and produced fromnoncorrodible metal. As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1, and 3and 4, said chamber tapers or flares in both directions toward its lowerend, said lower end being upturned inwardly, forming a groove or channel20 extending around such lower end and leading to a cut-out portion ordrainage opening 2| (see Fig. 4). Y

The chamber I9 is open at its lower end and the opening formed by theupturned lower edge thereof will be of such dimension as not to extendfully in either direction, laterally or transversely of the gridsurface.

The upper end of the body I9 is secured to a plate 22 which rests uponthe inwardly projecting flanges of the frame elements 1 and 8 (see Fig.3) by which it is supported. A spray nozzle of any approved form andindicated generally by 23 extends through the plate 22 and terminates inthe upper portion of the spray-directing member I9 centrally withreference to the oppositely disposed sides of said chamber, which, asabove stated, is preferably oblong in cross-section with the major axisextending transversely of the grid composed of the bars I4.

It will, of course, be understood that the starch solution will besupplied to the nozzle element 23 under a given head or pressure andwill, likewise, have a definite or fixed consistency so that theelements of the garment or garments being starched will be evenlytreated and impregnated. Inasmuch as the starch supplying and projectingmeans, as well as the mechanism or means for maintaining the starch inits proper consistency form no part of the present machine, they are notillustrated.

At the forward end of the frame of the machine and secured to a fixedportion thereof is a guide and guard plate 24 which extends across fromthe member 9 to the member I0, said plate facilitating proper placementof the garment with reference to the infeeding devices about to bedescribed.

Overlying the members 9 and I0 and extending from the intake end of themachine toward the grid is a plate 25 which likewise bridges the spacebetween the members 9 and I0. Said latter plate, 25, forms the supportfor the upper run of an endless belt 26. Located above said belt is asecond belt 21, the lower run whereof is held in close juxtapositionwith reference to the belt 26 and moves in the same direction with theupper run thereof. This forms the intake or initial feeding mechanismfor the garment element which is to be starched, and positions and movessuch element onto and over the grid or equivalent open support.

Belt 25 passes around an idler roller 28 and about a driven roller 29secured upon a shaft 30. Belt 21 at the intake end of the machine passesabout an idler roller 3l and adjacent the grid about a roller 32 securedto a driven shaft 33. The ends of the shaft 33 are supported in bearings3'4 and 35, respectively, carried by the lower end of spring-pressedplungers- 36 and 31, respectively. These plungers are mounted invertically disposed bearing recesses formed in the members 1 and 8,respectively, and the compression springs are held in position bythreaded elements 38, 38, respectively. By this means, the belts 26 and21 are held close together adjacent the forward end of the grid and anysuitable belt-tightening connection may be used in conjunctiontherewith, as for instance rollers 39 and 4l), carried upon arms 4I, 62,secured to shafts 43, 44. Pins or arms 15, 45 are likewise secured tosaid shafts,l and a spring 1 interconnecting the outer ends of saidarms, tends to rock the shafts and force the rollers 39, 45 toward eachother and against the outer runs of the belts.

Mounted in the frame members 9 and I0 at the discharge end of themachine is a shaft 59, said shaft having secured thereto a relativelylarge pulley 5I about which passes a belt 52, the belt likewise passingabout a pulley secured to the shaft of a variable speed electric motor53. Any suitable means may, however, be employed for imparting motion tothe shaft 5i).

Secured to the shaft 58 is a sprocket wheel 54 about which passes asprocket chain 55, the chain likewise passing about a sprocket 56secured to shaft 39. Shaft 39 also carries a gear 51 which meshes with asimilar gear 58 secured to shaft 33. As a consequence, the rollers 29and 32 rotate in unison and impart equal speed of travel to the belts 26and 21, feeding any article which may be placed between them forwardlywithout wrinkling or displacement onto the grid bars I4.

Secured upon shaft 5i) is a roller 59 which cooperates with a roller 59secured to a shaft 6I carried by spring-pressed plungers similar to theplungers 36, 31 which are mounted in suitable housings or bearings inthe frame elements 1 and 8, respectively. Shaft 6I also carries a gear62 which meshes with a gearY 63 secured to the shaft 59, so that equalperipheral speed is imparted to the rollers 59 and 60, which rollersbite the edge of the advancing goods and tend to draw the same forwardlyover the grid surface.

It will be appreciated, of course, that any driving means may beemployed and in fact in the broader aspect of f the invention, theinitial .feed. ing belts 26, 2lV may bei omitted and `the Agoods placedover and upon the grid :by hand, the drawing of theelement to'bestarchedover such grid beingeffected by the final combinedfeed andcompression rollers 59 and (i9. As above indicated, the degree ofimpregnation is dependent upon several factors, to wit, the consistencyof the starch, the force with which it is sprayed upon the article beingstarched, the speed .of travel of the goods over the grid and beneaththe `spray chamber, and also upon the tension exerted 'between thecompression rollers 59, 60. If said rollers are so set as to exertconsiderable pressure upon the article, there will be a tendency for therollers to squeeze out the starch solution. In any event, said rollerstend to cause the starch to permeate the goods evenly throughout, thisowing to their pressure action.

If one portion happens to be carrying too much starch and anotherportion too little, the overcharged portion will be depleted of itscharge and the other, uncharged portion will in all likelihood beproperly charged as the surplus will tend to well up between thedowngoing surface of the roller Gil and the forwardly traveling garmentelement charged with starch.

As above noted, the opening or mouth of the member I9 is such as topreclude the starch spray from passing beyond the edge thereof, or inother Words, beyond the edge or margin of the supporting grid upon andover which the garment element is being drawn. Thus, the starch does notpass outwardly into the adjacent portion of the garment, except perhapsto a very slight extent by conduction.

Any excess starch will be caught by the trough 20, flowing around thesame and outwardly of the opening 2| and down into the receptacle I8which may be emptied from time to time, either automatically or byremoval and manual emptying.

The trough Il is designed to receive the bulk of the garment, while theparticular element, cuff, collar or lapel, is being placed within themachine and treated. It sustains the major weight of the wet garment andallows the operator to give his undivided attention to the placement ofthe particular sector or section of the garment which is to be starched.

It is manifest that insofar as the broad invention, particularly as itmay be expressed in method, is concerned, it is not to be limited to thepresent showing.

What is claimed is:

1. That method of applying starch to a definite portion only of avgarment while leaving the remainder unstarched, which consists inholding such portion in an unwrinkled, outstretched condition, passingit while in such condition through the path of a spray of fluent starch,and thereafter subjecting such starched portion to compressive actionwhereby uniform or homogeneous and complete impregnation of the definiteportion by the starch is effected.

2. In an apparatus. of the character described, the combination of anopen-Work support; means for traversing material to be starchedthere'over; and means for projecting a spray of starch upon the exposedsurface of the material.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of anopen-work support for the article to be starched; means for traversingsaid article thereover; means for projecting a spray of starch upon theexposed surface of the article;

and means for thereafter subjecting the body so starched to acompressive action.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of anopen-work support; means for traversing material to be starchedthereover; means for projecting starch onto the material; and means forconfining the effective area of the spray within predetermined limits.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein means is provided forsubjecting the starched material to a compressive action to securethorough impregnation of the material by the starch.

Y6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of anopen-work support; means for traversing a definite portion of a garmentto be starched thereover; means for projecting starch onto said portion;and means cooperative with the starch projecting means acting to preventapplication of starch upon the garment cutward of such portion.

'7. A structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein means is provided forsubjecting such garment element to a compressive action after starch hasbeen applied thereto.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of anopen-work support for the article to be starched; means for traversingsaid article thereover; a spray chamber located above said support, thelower end whereof opens directly above said support; and means forprojecting a spray of starch into said chamber and directly therethroughonto the article on the support.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the lower portion of thechamber is provided with means for conning the spray as it passestherefrom within given limits laterally with reference to the chamber.

l0. A structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the chamber at itslower end is provided with a gutter to receive any excess starch, saidgutter being provided with a drainage opening.

1l. A structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the lower end of thechamber is upturned inwardly, forming a restricted opening for the lowerend of the chamber through which the starch spray may pass and likewiseforming a gutter to receive excess starch, said gutter having a drainageopening formed therein.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of agrid-like support for the article to be starched; means for traversingmalterial to be starched thereover; a spray chamber located above saidgrid; means for projecting starch into and through said chamber onto thearticle on the support; and a receptacle for receiving starch which maypass through the article and grid.

i3. A structure as set forth in claim 12, wherein the grid-like supportis formed of a series of bars secured to the open upper end of anopenended chute; and the receptacle is placed below said chute.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of anopen-work support; means for traversing material to be starchedthereover; means for projecting starch onto the material withinpredetermined confined limits thereon; and a pair of rollers forthereafter subjecting the starched material to compressive action, atleast one of said rollers being urged toward the other through springaction.

l5. In an apparatus of the character described,` the combination of asupporting frame; a pair of feeding belts arranged in superposedrelation with reference to each other in said frame; means for drivingsaid belts to effect movementJ of the adjacent runs of the belts in thesame direction; a support for the article to be starched, said supportbeing located adjacent the point or plane of the discharge of the beltsandvin line therewith; and means for projecting starch upon the articleas it passes onto said support from the belts.

16. A structure as set forth in claim l5, Wherein a pair of positivelydriven rollers are located to that side of the support opposite thatupon which the article is introduced by the feeding belts,

